Tahir Ali
{{Short description|British politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Tahir Ali
| honorific-suffix = MP
| office = Member of Parliament
for Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
{{nobold|Birmingham Hall Green (2019–2024)}}
| predecessor = Roger Godsiff
| party = Labour Party
| otherparty = Socialist Campaign Group
| majority = 5,656 (13.6%)
| termstart = 12 December 2019
| termend =
| office1 = Member of Birmingham City Council
for Nechells Ward
| predecessor1 = Tariq Khan
| successor1 = Lee Marsham
| predecessor2 = T. Khan
| successor2 = Tariq Khan
| termstart2 = 6 May 1999
| termend2 = 1 May 2003
| termstart1 = 10 June 2004
| termend1 = 5 May 2022
| image = Tahir Ali portrait 2024.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1971|10|15}}
| birth_place = Birmingham, West Midlands, England
| caption = Official portrait, 2024
| children = 4
| constituency = Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
}}
Tahir Ali (born 15 October 1971){{Cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-02-05/debates/A10ADCE0-81D3-4233-A290-129D52D34C92/Transport#contribution-8B6408C6-4B48-43FC-B06C-43228C07F651|title=Transport – Hansard|last=|first=|date=|website=hansard.parliament.uk|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-02-05|quote=In 1989, at the age of 17, I secured an engineering apprenticeship with Royal Mail.}}{{Cite book|last=Brunskill|first=Ian|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1129682574|title=The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election|date=19 March 2020|isbn=978-0-00-839258-1|pages=104|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Limited |oclc=1129682574}} is a British Labour politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley, previously Birmingham Hall Green, since 2019.{{Cite news|title=Birmingham Hall Green parliamentary constituency – Election 2019|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000562}} On the political left, he is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group.
Early life and career
Tahir Ali was born on 15 October 1971 in Birmingham to Pakistani parents. He worked for Royal Mail after securing an engineering apprenticeship at the age of 17. He is an active trade unionist and served as a political officer for the Communication Workers Union.
Ali represented the Nechells Ward on Birmingham City Council from 1999 and was last re-elected in 2018 to serve until 2022, when he did not seek re-election. He served as part of the council's cabinet from 2000 to 2003 and 2012 to 2016, (shadow cabinet 2004 to 2012) his responsibilities including local services, development, jobs, skills, transport and the economy.{{Cite web|last=Elkes|first=Neil|date=2016-05-11|title=The four councillors set to be sacked from Birmingham's cabinet|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/sack-four-senior-councillors-axed-11319455|access-date=2019-12-18|website=Birmingham Mail}} In 2012, he was the only ethnic minority member of the team.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-18232461|title=Council cabinet decision defended|date=2012-05-28|access-date=2019-12-18|language=en-GB}}
Parliamentary career
In October 2019 Ali was selected as the Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Birmingham Hall Green.{{Cite web|last=Haynes|first=Jane|date=2019-10-02|title=City MP in battle to keep seat after activists trigger contest|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/mp-roger-godsiff-faces-battle-17015804|access-date=2019-12-24|website=Birmingham Mail}} The candidate selection process was undertaken by the Labour Party's National Executive Committee.{{Cite web|last=Rodgers|first=Sienna|date=2019-11-09|title=Local councillor Tahir Ali selected for Birmingham Hall Green|url=https://labourlist.org/2019/11/local-councillor-tahir-ali-selected-for-birmingham-hall-green/|access-date=2019-12-18|website=LabourList|language=en-GB}} The campaign was marred by intimidation from former MP Roger Godsiff's supporters, resulting in three police investigations, one arrest for malicious communications and police patrols outside polling stations.{{Cite web|last=Haynes|first=Jane|date=2019-12-07|title=Police probe complaints over 'sinister' Hall Green election battle|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/police-probe-more-complaints-sinister-17328443|access-date=2019-12-13|website=Birmingham Mail}}
At the 2019 general election, Ali was elected to Parliament as MP for Birmingham Hall Green with 67.8% of the vote and a majority of 28,508.{{Cite web |title=Candidates standing for election (Statement of Persons Nominated) | Birmingham City Council |url=https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/file/14438/statement_of_persons_nominated}}
He endorsed Rebecca Long-Bailey in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election and Angela Rayner in the deputy leadership election.{{Cite tweet |user=TahirAliMP |author=Tahir Ali MP |number=1222320854928953346 |date = 29 January 2020 |title=#RLB2020 for Leader #angelafordeputy}}
Ali was a member of the European Scrutiny Committee from March 2020 until May 2024. He was also a member of the Justice Committee from March 2023 until May 2024.{{Cite web |title=Tahir Ali MP, Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25888/tahir_ali/birmingham_hall_green_and_moseley |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=TheyWorkForYou |language=en}}
At the 2024 general election, Ali was elected to Parliament as the MP for the newly created Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley constituency. He received 30.8% of the vote and a majority of 5,656, defeating two independent candidates.{{Cite web |title=Election result for Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley (Constituency) - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/3909/election/422 |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=members.parliament.uk |language=en}}
As of May 2025, Ali is the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Kuwait, Turkey and Yemen.{{Cite web |title=House of Commons - Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups as at 7 May 2025: Contents |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/250507/contents.htm |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=publications.parliament.uk}}
Controversies
In April 2020, Ali was given a formal warning by police after he broke government restrictions by attending a funeral with up to 100 mourners during the coronavirus pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Haynes |first1=Jane |date=3 April 2020 |title=Police issue warning to MP Tahir Ali after he attends funeral with 'up to 100 mourners' |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/police-issue-warning-mp-tahir-18038507 |access-date=3 April 2020 |work=Birmingham Live}} West Midlands Labour Party Police commissioner David Jamieson also publicly condemned Ali's conduct, stating that his actions were "totally irresponsible" and that he "is not serving his constituents by endangering their lives".{{Cite web |last=Haynes |first=Jane |date=April 3, 2020 |title=Police commissioner slams city MP for 'endangering lives' over funeral gathering |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/police-chief-slams-city-mp-18033261 |website=Birmingham Mail}} Ali issued an apology stating that he only attended as an observer and would not be attending any other similar gatherings.{{Cite news |date=3 April 2020 |title=Coronavirus: MP Tahir Ali apologises after funeral during lockdown |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-52154327 |access-date=24 March 2021 |work=BBC News}}
Ali has been critical of the government of Narendra Modi in India. In March 2021, he expressed his "absolute support for, and solidarity with, the farmers protesting in India" and called for sanctions to be imposed on the government of India, citing the "abuse the human and civil rights not only of farmers, but of Kashmiri people through the military occupation of the region".{{Cite news|last=Walker|first=Jonathan|date=10 March 2021|title=Two Birmingham MPs call for sanctions against government of India and back farmer protests|work=Birmingham Mail|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/two-birmingham-mps-call-sanctions-20037203|access-date=24 March 2021}} Ali further said that "political opponents of Modi in India are at risk of arbitrary arrest, and the civil liberties of all Indians are being eroded by an extremist, rightwing government".{{Cite news|last=Wintour|first=Patrick|date=10 March 2021|title=MPs hit back after India summons envoy over farmers' protest debate|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/10/mps-hit-back-after-india-summons-envoy-over-farmers-protest-debate|access-date=24 March 2021}}
On 24 February 2022, following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ali was one of 11 Labour MPs threatened with losing the party whip after they signed a statement by the Stop the War Coalition which questioned the legitimacy of NATO and accused the military alliance of "eastward expansion". All 11 MPs subsequently removed their signatures.{{cite news |last1=Wearmouth |first1=Rachel |title=11 Labour MPs threatened with suspension for signing Stop The War letter attacking NATO |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/11-labour-mps-face-suspension-26323193 |access-date=24 February 2022 |work=Mirror |date=24 February 2022}}
He is a member of Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East.{{cite web | title=Parliamentary Supporters | website=LFPME | date=1970-01-01 | url=https://www.lfpme.co.uk/parliamentary-supporters | access-date=2024-06-05}} During Prime Minister's Questions on 24 January 2024, Ali stirred controversy around the Gaza war. He asserted that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak bore responsibility for "the blood of thousands of innocent people on his hands," sparking significant public and parliamentary attention.{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Tahir |title=Engagements – Prime Minister's Questions |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-01-24/debates/7E61064D-D3AF-4AB7-AD75-6D7E193174F9/Engagements }} In response to the backlash, Ali issued a formal apology on the same day, expressing regret for the choice of words, whilst maintaining his steadfast views on the Middle East. He acknowledged the need to apologise for the manner in which he described the Prime Minister.{{Cite web |last=@tahiralimp |title=(1/2) Earlier at PMQs I asked the Prime Minister about the actions of Israel in Gaza. This is obviously a deeply emotive issue. While I do not resile from my strongly held views on the situation in the Middle East I would like to apologise for the way in which I described |url=https://x.com/TahirAliMP/status/1750173546913939494?s=20 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}}{{primary inline|date=November 2024}}
Due to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, Ali's constituency of Birmingham Hall Green was abolished, and replaced with Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley. At the 2024 general election, Ali was elected to Parliament as MP for Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley with 30.8% of the vote and a majority of 5,656.{{Cite news |title=Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley - General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001094 |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
In November 2024, he asked Prime Minister Keir Starmer to "commit to introducing measures to prohibit the desecration of all religious texts and the prophets of Abrahamic religions".{{cite web |title=Engagements - Hansard - UK Parliament |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2024-11-27/debates/5CDC74BA-B602-4676-A97A-B678AF436F85/Engagements#contribution-70F53BD1-31B1-4084-8E03-E774F00AF150 |website=hansard.parliament.uk |access-date=16 December 2024 |language=en}} The Independent wrote that the question "raised concerns he was in effect calling for a blasphemy law", and noted that Starmer neither rejected the proposal nor mentioned a specific response.{{cite news |last1=Maddox |first1=David |title=Labour MP’s call for Islamophobia crackdown prompts ‘blasphemy law’ fears |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/keir-starmer-blasphemy-law-pmqs-b2654819.html |access-date=2 April 2025 |work=The Independent |date=28 November 2024}} The National Secular Society called such a proposal "deeply alarming".{{Cite web |date=2024-11-27 |title=NSS: MPs call for new blasphemy laws "deeply alarming" |url=https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2024/11/nss-mps-call-for-new-blasphemy-laws-deeply-alarming |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=National Secular Society |language=en-GB}}{{cite news |title=UK MP proposes law to criminalise religious text desecration, sparks free speech debate |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/uk-mp-proposes-law-to-criminalise-religious-text-desecration-sparks-free-speech-debate/articleshow/115764719.cms |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=28 November 2024}}
In March 2025, Ali was one of 20 MPs to sign a letter addressed to the prime minister of Pakistan, to build a new airport in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir in order to save travel time for visitors from Britain. Figures including Labour minister Dan Jarvis,{{cite news |last1=Grylls |first1=George |title=Minister rebukes MPs over campaign for new airport in Kashmir |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/mps-kashmir-airport-news-q7hpldztm |access-date=2 April 2025 |work=The Times |date=31 March 2025}} and Conservative shadow minister Robert Jenrick said that Ali and the other signees should have been focusing on domestic issues such as a refuse collection strike in Birmingham.{{cite news |last1=McArdle |first1=Tom |title=Labour MP told to ‘focus on UK’ after calling for airport in Kashmir as bin strikes spiral |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/30/labour-mp-bin-strikes-airport-kashmir-rats-robert-jenrick/ |access-date=2 April 2025 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=30 March 2025}}
In April 2025, Ali was mentioned in an article covering this campaign. The article points out Ali has never voted in parliament on matters related to welfare reform or benefits cuts, however has campaigned for this airport, and the introduction of blasphemy law.{{Cite news |last=Malik |first=Kenan |date=2025-04-13 |title=The identity politics of many Muslims, and critics of Islam, are deeply corrosive |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/13/the-identity-politics-of-many-muslims-and-critics-of-islam-are-deeply-corrosive |access-date=2025-04-14 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{UK MP links |parliament=4747 |publicwhip=Tahir_Ali |theywork=tahir_ali}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Roger Godsiff}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Birmingham Hall Green|years=2019–2024}}
{{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}}
|-
{{s-new|constituency}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley|years=2024–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{S-end}}
{{Labour Party UK MPs}}
{{Socialist Campaign Group}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Tahir}}
Category:Councillors in Birmingham, West Midlands
Category:English people of Pakistani descent
Category:Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East
Category:Labour Party (UK) councillors
Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
Category:Socialist Campaign Group